IFFS 2015 partners with European Union on its first business mission to ASEAN
Co-ordinated by the European Union Business Avenues, a programme under the EU, this also marks the union’s debut efforts to explore the market opportunities that ASEAN offers for more than 40 European furnishing brand and companies. The International Furniture Fair 2015 was a choice platform to assist small and medium companies from the EU enter and expand their businesses in ASEAN.
This initiative is a business support programme, enabling companies from the EU to better understand the characteristics of the ASEAN market, with the objective of establishing mutually beneficial and lasting business relationships between the EU and ASEAN. In march next year, these 40 companies will launch their decorative and furnishing exhibits from 28 cities in Europe, under the label “European Design”.
“Due to Singapore’s infrastructure and strategic location as well as the proven track record of IFFS, it was naturally the preferred choice for the first EU Business Avenues programme in ASEAN,” commented Ernie Koh, Chairman of IFFS Pte Ltd. “We are delighted that the EU has made the choice decision to leverage on the IFFS as the platform to showcase European Designs with the business objective to gain exposure and experience for their businesses in ASEAN. I am sure the plethora of shows can offer abundant networking and business opportunities for the delegates to explore the dynamism of the markets here.”
To date, more than 50% of the total 60,000m2 of exhibition space has been snapped up, nine months ahead of the fair. This early high participation rate is an endorsement of the fair’s reputation as one of the top international furniture trade shows.
Singapore exhibitors include names such as d-Bohdi, Eurosa Furniture, Achipelago Exports and Asiades. Several prominent international brands have also confirmed their participation, including Bellagio Asia, Ethnicraft NV, Glen Raven LLC Sunbrella, Manutti BVBA, Pure Home Collections, SOME and Resource Door. With the enriched content from EU, the next edition of IFFS/AFS 2015, The Décor Show and Hospitality 360° is poised for a bespoke and design-centric exhibition.
The Singapore Furniture Industries Council (SFIC) is also endorsing the EU Business Avenues on this initiative and together with the EU support, the partnership will see a culmination of business objectives in the longterm.
IFFS/AFS 2014 saw a healthy attendance of 22,496 trade visitors and 418 exhibitors from 115 countries, with a total of SGD483 million in spot orders and SGD5.85 billion in follow-on orders.
